Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook Figure 8
San Angelo State Park
- 12/26/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 8.70 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 20 minutes
Leg 1 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Potts Creek (W) > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (N) > Cougar Overlook 5.3 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > park service road (SW then S) > Trailhead to Trailhead > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.4 miles
Temp started at 60, ended at 77. Sunny then slightly overcast. Steady SW breeze at 5-10mph.
Easy hike along dry, easy to see and traverse trails. A few deer were spotted but today was bird day. Cardinals, White Crowned Sparros, Meadowlarks, a Kestrel, and red-tailed hawk and the biggest surprise was a Belted Kingfisher at Turkey Creek. What water is there was stagnant so I assume the Kingfisher quickly moved on to a better hunting locale. The trails were good, the weather pleasant and the solitude was nice - a good hike!
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station available at Cougar Overlook.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Loop + Roadrunner Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 12/22/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.60 Miles
Duration: 5 hours
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Tasajilla Flats > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.6 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area 2.9 miles
Leg 3 - Playground parking area > Roadrunner Loop > Playground parking area 3.1 miles
Temp started at 39, ended at 70!! Sunny with some overcast clouds, steady SW 5-10mph breeze.
Easy hike along dry and easy to traverse trails. Deer were spotted as was a songle javelina, numerous Mockers, a Loggerhead SHrike, sparrows and a porcupine sleeping at the top of a tree (photo attached). Not much activity until it warmd up a bit and even then it was pretty quiet. One negative - I found 1/2 of a baby porcupine on the Nature Trail. No idea what got him but I hope it was a quick death.
On a more positive note - today I passed the 5,000 recorded mile mark hiking on Texas trails - the vast majority of the mileage was at San Angelo State Park where I've hiked for almost 25 years. I know the trails well!
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station available at Playground Parking Area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Three stations with water, shade, info kiosk and toilets available along Roadrunner Loop. Water and shade available at numerous campsites along the way.
North Shore - Bell's Trailhead to Cougar Overlook Figure 8
San Angelo State Park
- 12/17/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 7.40 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 45 minutes
Leg 1 - Bell's Trailhead > Shady Trail > park service road (SW) > Rocky Creek Trail > park service road (S) > South Slick Rock > River Bend Campground > Upper Ghost Camp Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Cougar Overlook 3.5 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > Javelina Trail > River Bend (W then N) > Badlands > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Bell's Trailhead 3.9 miles
Temp started at 50, ended at 56. Overcast for the 1st 2/3 of the hike then partly sunny with clouds. 0-5mph Westerly breeze, light humidity.
Easy hike along recently opened trails with the Lower Ghost Camp Trail still CLOSED. Shady Trail and the North Scenic Loop have reopened. The July 4th flood was pretty severe and left a lot of debris scattered about (photo attached).
Due to the temperature and the overcast skies, there was almost no bird activity and only a few deer were out. The only good news is the river still has water in it. For this park, that is very welcome news!
NOTES -
Info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Bell's Trailhead. Water and shade available at nearby campsites.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at River Bend Campground.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station available at Cougar Overlook.
Park Mid-section - Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook Loop
San Angelo State Park
- 12/11/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.00 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Leg 1 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Turkey Creek > 5 points junction > River Bend > park service road (W) > park service road (N) > Cougar Overlook 5.7 miles
Leg 2 - Cougar Overlook > park service road (SW) > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park 3.3 miles
Temps started at 36, ended at 64. Sunny with a light breeze then steady 10-15mph SW wind.
Easy hike along dry, easy to traverse trails. A few deer were spotted and a few birds but with the cold and increasing wind, no other animals or birds were seen. Nothing much to report except it was a very pleasant hike and no photos taken.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.
Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.
Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station available at Cougar Overlook.
South Shore - Playground parking area to Armadillo Ridge Figure 8
San Angelo State Park
- 12/5/2025
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 9.70 Miles
Duration: 4 hours, 45 minutes
Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Talley Valley > Horny Toad > Nature Trail > Lankey Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.2 miles
Leg 2 - Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > Potts Creek > West Potts Creek > Roller Coaster > WS to LL Connector > Burkett Park 3.7 miles
Leg 3 - Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground parking area.
Temsp started at 36, ended at 54. Overcast with 5-10mph WSW breeze.
An easy hike along dry and easy to traverse trails. Cold at first but gradually warmed up. LOTS and LOTS of deer spotted - especially 6 and 8 point bucks. No doubt they sought refuge from the recent hunt of a few days ago. Not many birds spotted although I saw a red tailed hawk at a distance and quite a few quail. Overall it was a good hike to enjoy nature while it was cold outside.
NOTES -
Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle reapir station are available at Playground parking area.
Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park.